4 days in Sicily

To start, meet me at Madonie Regional Natural Park. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. 4.6 out of 5 across 5,131 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.

Late morning, head to Piano Cervi. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or go through Tiqets.

In the afternoon, it’s Piano Sempria. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.

In the morning, I make my way to Valley of the Temples. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (61,325 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.

Around noon, head to Murals on Via Neve. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.

After lunch, meet me at Piazza Umberto I. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.

Early in the morning, I make my way to Bosco della Ficuzza. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (2,253 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.

Then, I make my way to Royal Palace of Ficuzza. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. 4.7 out of 5 across 2,542 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.

Early in the morning, it’s Roman Villa of Casale. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (18,116 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.

Late morning, it’s Castello Aragonese. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.

Later, it’s Museo della Città e del Territorio di Piazza Armerina. Palazzo Trigona. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or compare on Tiqets.